Articulating camera for digital image acquisition

ABSTRACT

The invention is an apparatus for capturing photographic images from film using a digital camera and encoding image information as digital data to facilitate editing and printing of finished photographs. The apparatus includes a film transport, an optical stage, sensors for detecting the position and identification marks on individual frames of the film, a digital camera and a computer system for controlling the apparatus and manipulating image and editing data. A feature of the invention is an articulating digital camera which is movable in relation to the optical stage of the device. The camera is positioned, under computer control, in the Y, Z and rotation (R) axis in relation to the images on the film. This permits a broad range of editing tasks to be performed in conjunction with the capture and storage of the digital images created by the device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/960,675, filed Sep.21, 2001. This application is related to, and claims the benefit ofpriority from, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/236,443,filed Oct. 2, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains to an apparatus for capturing a digital imagefrom a photographic negative, and more specifically, for selectivelypositioning a photographic image capturing device in relation to acontinuous roll of photographic negatives.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional chemical photographic image processing has evolved frommanual to semi-automatic to nearly fully automatic operation in recentyears. Additionally, the wide availability of high quality digitalphotographic image processing equipment has further streamlined theprocess of editing photographic images and producing prints fromnegatives. These advances have resulted in substantially reduced costs,as well.

In the traditional photographic image processing operations prevalent athigh volume photographic laboratories, it is known to splice severalrolls of developed film together to form a continuous strip ofphotographic negatives, each strip containing several hundred individualimages. To keep track of these images and edit them in a high productionenvironment is a complex task. Each photographic image must beidentified by a discrete code or number. This code may then becorrelated with identifying data regarding the image, for example, thename and address of the photographer, the photographer's job number, theframe number within the photographer's job, as well as color correction,balance, cropping and orientation information. Only by associating allof this information with a discrete identifying number can thephotographic laboratory and its customer, the photographer, be assuredthat photographic prints generated from the photographic negatives arecorrectly produced and routed.

It is well known to produce photographic film processing machines whichautomatically detect the edge of individual photographic frames on along roll of developed photographic negative film, and to affix to eachframe (usually at the edge) a marking, often in the form of punchedholes or notches to identify each frame. It is also well known to usesuch marked film in a photographic editing and/or printing apparatus,and to manipulate the film in relation to a fixed photographic imagingapparatus such as an enlarger or lamp house, or in relation to a digitalvideo imaging device such as a CCD digital video camera.

Traditionally, such video imaging devices have been fixed in relation tothe path of travel of the long roll of negatives being imaged, andcorrection of tilted images, reorientation between landscape andportrait formats, and selection of optical centers of the image havebeen handled by selective movement of a carrier upon which the strip ofnegative film is mounted. Examples of this type of technology can befound in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,292. The focus of the video imagingdevice in relation to the negative images on the film has also beenfixed, preventing corrections for out-of-focus conditions which mayarise.

It is equally well known to utilize digital cameras to transferphotographic images, in digital format, to computers or to computerdatabases. A simple example of this type of device is found in U.S. Pat.No. 5,920,342 (Umeda). The video-imaging devices taught in the priorart, however, are incapable of providing customized articulated movementin relationship to the plane of the image being scanned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

My invention incorporates the use of an articulating digitalphotographic imaging device associated with a long roll film transport,edge detector and punch.

It is possible to enhance the productivity of the photographiclaboratory by further automating the long roll film handling processutilizing my invention. The image capture and encoding device hereindescribed detects frame numbers, punches frame numbers and acquires highquality full frame digital images from a wide variety of film formats.Utilizing an articulating camera assembly, formatting, editing and imagesize variations can be done through software control by virtue ofappropriate electrical connections and instructions between the imagecapture and encoding device and a digital computer. The device combinesseveral process steps, previously performed in discrete locations, intoa single work station.

The frame edge detection element automatically detects frame edges andso identifies the optical center of each individual frame. The holepunch element places standard binary punch patterns on each individualframe in one embodiment.

A digital CCD camera, associated with a tri-color (RGB) light source ismounted to provide camera movement in relation to the film. Usingappropriate digitally controlled motors, the distance of the camera fromthe film, the Y-axis positioning of the camera in relationship to thefilm center line, the rotation of the camera and focusing can all becontrolled utilizing an associated computer running a conventionaloperating system and specialized software which forms a part of myinvention.

Embodiments of my invention include the ability to separately identifyframes from appropriately perforated film, and to read bar codes encodedon the film. The associated software provided with my invention permitsa full range of editing, including photograph composition, colorbalance, orientation, enlargement, refocusing, tilting and touch-up. Byproviding both the laboratory and the photographer with complimentarysoftware, editing and printing instructions may be freely exchangedutilizing transportable media or computer networks to transmit databetween the photographer, the photographic laboratory and the customer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the image capture and encoding portionof the apparatus, showing its interconnection to a computer and datanetwork.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart outlining the initial image capture steps.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing secondary editing steps.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the main structural elements of the imagecapture and encoding station.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing the placement of the major componentsof the image capture and encoding station.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the digital camera in relation to themajor components of the Z-axis transport.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing the digital camera in relation to themajor components of the Y-axis transport.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view showing the digital camera in relation to therotational position and focus function of the camera.

FIGS. 9A-9D are an exploded views of the main components of the lamphouse.

FIG. 10 is an exploded view showing the main housing components of theimage capture and encoding station.

FIG. 11 is a front view of a portion of the image capture and encodingstation showing the routing of the film.

FIG. 12 is a view of the major pneumatic and vacuum components and theirinterconnection, and

FIG. 12A is a view of the major pneumatic and vacuum components shown inrelation to the main structural components of the image capture andencoding status.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The operation of the invention will best be understood first byreference to the overall process defining the environment in which thehardware and software perform, next by analyzing the overallconfiguration and interconnection of the various hardware elements, andfinally by analyzing the hardware elements of the invention in detail.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are simplified flow charts of operations. The imagecapture and encoding apparatus 10 (as shown in FIG. 1) is designed tooperate on a long roll of film, typically created from splicing togethertwo or more rolls of film exposed by the photographer during a typicalphotographic job. In some instances, the long roll of film may containmultiple jobs for the same photographer, and on rare occasions, mayinclude multiple rolls of film from multiple photographers. The rolls offilm are spliced together using well known techniques, therebypresenting to the image capture and encoding apparatus 10 a continuousstrip of film, often including several hundred individual exposures.

The next step in the film image capture process is the accuratedetection of a leading or trailing edge of the individual frames foundon the film. Typically, this involves the use of an array of opticalsensors positioned in relation to the film, and comparing detailedinformation regarding the optical density of the film in relation toknown standards. These techniques, which are well known, result in thereliable detection of at least one edge of the exposure constitutingwhat is conventionally viewed as a negative image on developedphotographic film.

Once the edge of the image is detected, a suitable apparatus, havingbeen provided with information regarding the precise dimensions of eachexposure on the film, is able to position each successive photographicimage, properly centered, in proximity to an image capturing device,such as a solid state video camera. Simultaneously with the positioningof the film, the film is illuminated, usually from the side opposite thevideo camera, to project the negative image to the video camera. Thisprocedure, which will be explained further on in this disclosure,results in the creation of one or more digitized images corresponding tothe negative image. This digital information is stored in apre-established format for later use.

Simultaneously with capture of image, the edge of the film is punchedproximate to each negative image. As a result, each frame of thephotographic film is provided with a permanent identifying mark near thefilm edge, where it does not interfere with the appearance of thephotographic image, either when digitized, or when printed tophotographic paper.

The next step in the process is the creation of a data base of digitalimages, which are organized and stored into a digital file fortransmission to the photographer and/or the photographer's customer.Typically, at this point in time, the images are “proof” images only,having merely been scanned, captured and identified by an appropriatecode, subjected to preliminary editing and placed into an appropriatedigital file. The preliminary editing is accomplished using imageinspection software, and may include color correction, positioning andorientation edits, for example.

The purpose of all of the foregoing steps is to create for thephotographic laboratory and for the originating photographer acollection of digital proofs which can be viewed and edited further.These digital proofs may be transmitted by the laboratory to thephotographer utilizing an inexpensive transportable medium, such as CDROM, or may be transmitted to the photographer and/or his or hercustomer by transmitting the data over a network, such as the Internet.Once the photographer either independently, or with input from thecustomer, has viewed the proofs, the photographer will typically selectone or more of the images for final production. The photographer willspecify for the laboratory a variety of parameters for each image to beproduced as a finished print. Sample parameters are image orientation(e.g. landscape or portrait), color balance, centering and cropping,magnification, print size, or color correction. Further, thephotographer may provide to the laboratory instructions for retouchingof photographs to remove blemishes, alter skin tone, remove undesirablereflections or add graphics or matting.

Once these editing decisions have been made, the process continues asoutlined in the flow chart shown in FIG. 3. The database of editinginformation provided by the photographer, and corresponding to thedatabase of images produced in the initial imaging steps provides thephotograph laboratory useful editing information in relation to thepreviously presented roll of film. Once this information has beenreceived, the previously scanned and punched film is again loaded to theimage capture and encoding apparatus, mounted and threaded for furtherprocessing. At this stage of the process, each image selected by thephotographer for printing is identified by its edge code and transportedby the apparatus to its optical stage. Utilizing the editing informationprovided by the photographer, the magnification, focus, orientation,tilt, cropping, and color balance of the image may be adjusted as theimage is recaptured for production purposes.

The photographic image may then be produced directly by digital outputfrom the edited digital image, or the revised editing informationcreated during the recapture process may be utilized to drive thecomponents of a conventional photograph printer to insure correctorientation, cropping, color balance, and other parameters when thephotographic image is presented to the photographic printer for theexposure of photographic paper.

In FIG. 1, the major components of the image capture and encodingapparatus are depicted. The principal components are the film encodingstation 12, the computer 14, the computer keyboard 16, the computermonitor 18 and the secondary computer input device 20, in oneembodiment, a mouse, although a track ball or digital writing tabletperforms equally well. The film encoding station 12, and its associatedinternal electronic components, are connected by cable 22 or infrareddata ports to the computer 14. The computer 14, in turn, may beappropriately connected to a computer network 24 utilizing well knowndata processing network equipment and techniques.

The computer 14, keyboard 16, and input device 20 are preferably standalone desktop type personal computer components of the type manufacturedby IBM®, Hewlett Packard®, Dell®, Compak®, and a wide variety of othermanufacturers. Typically, these computers are provided with a centralprocessing unit, random access memory of sufficient size to accommodatethe relatively large file sizes resulting from the capture of digitalimages, one or more storage devices, such as hard disk drives, capableof storing a large number of the relatively large files previouslydiscussed, and frequently, a disk drive capable of both reading andwriting to large capacity removable storage mediums, such as thecommercially available Zip® drive, rewritable CD ROMs or removable harddisks. The computer monitor 18 is typically selected from that group ofcolor computer monitors capable of generating a wide range of colorinformation, and producing accurate representations of photographicimages in a variety of formats, such as RGB, CMYK and grey scaleformats. The computer 14 and its associated components serve as theinterface between the film encoding station 12 and the operator, andfurther serve to depict both edited and unedited images, imagecollections, and data associated with each image. The computer 14further serves as the portal by which photographic image data may betransmitted over a network 24, or to other output devices.

The film encoding station 12 comprises a base plate 36, a front toolplate 38, a rear tool plate 40 (not shown in this view), a housingassembly 28 and a front cover 33, all of which serve to support andenclose the major operating components of the film encoding station 12.Affixed to the base plate 36 and tool plates 38 and 40 are anarticulating camera 15, a feed spool 80, a take-up spool 82, a feedroller array 84, a take-up roller array 86, a drive roller 88, a sensor90, a film punch assembly 92 and a lamp house assembly 94. Containedwithin the interior of the housing 28 are the various electrical,pneumatic and mechanical components which drive and control theoperation of the film encoding station 12.

Further detail of the major components of the film encoding station canbe best appreciated by reference to FIG. 4. The structural and operativeelements of the film encoding station 12 are mounted to a frameworkproviding a secure platform for the mounting of the various components.It is important to recognize that the film optical stage and camera mustbe rigidly mounted to extremely fine tolerances to insure both a highdegree of repeatability and a high degree of precision in photographicimaging. The various elements of the film encoding station framework areenclosed by a housing assembly 28, consisting of housing side elements30 and 32, base plate 36, front tool plate 38 and rear tool plate 40.The housing elements, when assembled, serve to enclose and protect themost sensitive components of the station, to support the variousoperative components and to further protect the operator from thehazards associated with moving components and high voltage electricityin this type of equipment. A plurality of foot elements 41 supports thebase plate 36 from beneath.

Front tool plate 38 and rear tool plate 40 provide the support for thevarious spool shafts, roller shafts, and Y, Z-axis travel block, motors,punch assembly, edge detecting assembly, light source assembly, filmhold down assembly, and punch waste receptacle. The tool plates 38 and40 further provide support for the Y-axis mounting spacer 220 and acropping template mounting block 221. Cooling exhaust fans are mountedto the housing to ventilate the interior of the housing.

FIG. 4 further shows the tool plates in relation to the lamp house top54 and sides 59 and 56. An LED circuit board bracket 61 provides supportfor the primary light source LEDs. In the preferred embodiment, fronttool plate 38, rear tool plate 40, housing sides 30 and 32, base plate36, and lamp house elements are fastened together using traditionalfastening means such as screws 100, to create the necessary physicalsupport for the attached components. Front tool plate 38 and rear toolplate 40 are further interconnected by the screws 100, and separated bystandoffs 52. Together these elements form the necessary physicalstructure of the device, to support the camera, film drive and lamphouse.

As seen in more detail in FIG. 5, front tool plate 38 and rear toolplate 40, when fastened together, form an assembly which supports, inpart, the lamp house top 54, lamp house left side 59 and lamp houseright side 56. The perimeter of front tool plate 38 also provides themounting support surface for the perimeter of housing right side 32 andhousing left side 30. Front and rear tool plates 38 and 40 furtherprovide support for feed spool shaft 81. The feed spool shaft 81 isdriven by an intelligent tensioning motor 102, which is coupled to feedspool shaft 81 by a coupling 104. The intelligent tensioning motor 102is mounted to the rear tool plate 40 by spacers 106, washers 101 andfasteners 100. Feed spool shaft 81 is further supported by bearings 108,which provide a low friction fitting for the rotation of the feed spoolshaft 81 in relation to front tool plate 38 and rear tool plate 40. Thefeed spool shaft 81 is further provided with a collar 111, washers 101,a spacer 110 and locking flange 112, which together serve to positionand secure the film feed spool. Adjoining the feed spool shaft 81 is anidler roller 116 supported by an idler roller shaft 118, which issupported on the front tool plate 38 and rear tool plate 40 by bearings108 and snap ring 114. Adjacent the idler roller are one or moreparticle transfer rollers 120 mounted on particle transfer roller shafts122 utilizing bearings 108. Particle transfer rollers 120 are surfacedwith a low tack adhesive to cause dust and other particles on the filmto adhere to the surface of the particle transfer roller 120. Particletransfer rollers 120 are designed to be cleanable and reusable afterbecoming contaminated or soiled. Particle transfer rollers 120 areaffixed to the front tool plate 38 and rear tool plate 40 utilizingconventional fasteners 100, washers 101, and snap ring 114. Adjacent tothe particle transfer rollers 120 is a feed guide roller 124 which ispivotally mounted to guide roller shaft 126. Guide roller shaft 126 ismounted to front tool plate 38 and rear tool plate 40 utilizing one ormore bearings 108 and snap rings 114. Guide roller 124 is incrementallyadjustable to establish a width between guide portions 125 of guideroller 124 to accommodate varying widths of film. Tension on the film ismaintained by a film tensioning roller 130, mounted on bearings 108,which are, in turn, mounted on the tensioning roller shaft 132. Thetensioning roller shaft 132 is mounted to a distal end of bail arm 134.The proximal end 136 of the bail arm 134 is mounted to the bail armpivot shaft 138, which, in turn, is mounted on bearings 108 fixed tofront tool plate 38 and rear tool plate 40. Bail arm pivot shaft 138protrudes through the rear tool plate 40 where it is provided with aspring 190, retaining collar 140, a switch vane collar 142 and a secondretaining collar 144. Switch vane collar 142 provides positioninginformation to the intelligent tensioning motor 102 to insure that theappropriate tension is maintained on the film moving through the system.

The principal film optical stage is the lamp house top 54; the film isconveyed across the lamp house top 54 during the sensing, imaging andpunching operations. The various guide and tensioning rollers hereindescribed serve to position the longitudinal or X-axis of the film inrelation to a camera 15 which is mounted, as will be explained in detailherein, in relation to the front tool plate 38 and lamp house top 54 toinsure exposure of the film. The film is illuminated from below by alamp house mixer 50 fixed to a lamp house mounting bracket 51, which, inturn, is mounted to the front tool plate 38 using fasteners 100. Thelamp house mounting bracket also provides support for power resistors150, attached to a lamp house mount bracket 51 which also acts as a heatsink for the resistors 150.

After passing over the lamp house top 54, the film is fed over guiderollers 160, which are mounted on guide roller shafts 162, which in turnare secured to the front tool plate 38 and rear tool plate 40 utilizingbearings 108 and snap rings 114. Between guide rollers 160 and 164 isthe primary drive roller 170, which is affixed to drive roller shaft172. Drive roller shaft 172 is mounted on bearings 108 and protrudesthrough to the rear side of the rear tool plate 40 where it is providedwith a drive pulley 174 which provides the necessary film advance. Thefilm is then routed over appropriate idler rollers 176 mounted to idlerroller shafts 178, which, are in turn, mounted to the front tool plate38 and rear tool plate 40 by bearings 108 and snap ring 114. The film isthen routed over a take-up tensioning roller 180 which is mounted bybearings 108 to tensioning roller shaft 182 attached to the distal endof bail arm 184. The proximal end 183 of bail arm 184 is affixed to bailarm pivot shaft 186 which is in turn mounted on bearings 108 and tofront tool plate 38 and rear tool plate 40. Bail arm pivot shaft 186 isprovided with a tensioning spring 190, a collar 140, a switch vanecollar 142 and a second retaining collar 144. In a fashion identical tothe counterpart tensioning roller on the feed side of the invention, theswitch vane collar 142 provides a positioning signal to the electroniccircuitry of the system to maintain appropriate tension on the film. Atake-up spool is mounted on a take-up spool shaft 202 which is mountedon bearings 108 to the front tool plate 38 and rear tool plate 40. Thetake-up spool is positioned on shaft 202 by spacer 110 and lockingflange 112. One end of take-up spool shaft 202 is mounted via a coupling204 to an intelligent tensioning motor 206 which is mounted to the reartool plate by appropriate standoffs 110 and fasteners 100.

At least one side of the housing, and as shown in the embodimentpictured in FIG. 5, the housing left side contains a cooling fan 42which is provided with both a fan guard 43 and a cover 44. Affixed tothe front tool plate 38 is a punch receptacle 210 for receiving thewaste punch material generated by the film punch (not shown). The punchreceptacle 210 is attached to the front tool plate 38 by a punchreceptacle bracket 212 and suitable fasteners 100. The punch receptacle210 is provided with an inlet 214 and an outlet 216, to provide apathway for sucking the punch waste into the receptacle as well as forconnection to a vacuum source.

Reference to FIGS. 6-8 will facilitate an understanding of the operationof the video imaging camera assembly. The video imaging camera 15 isprovided with a variable focus lens 58, which is a multi element lens ofdesired optical characteristics complimentary to the video camera and tothe resolution of a wide range of color images. Camera 15 is secured toy-axis travel block 220 via camera ring 222. Travel block 220 is alsoattached to lens ring 224 using suitable fasteners 100. Y-axis travelblock 220 is, in turn, provided with camera rotating ring 226. Rotatorring 226 is preferably in the form of a bearing or bushing therebypermitting camera to rotate freely within the Y-axis travel block 220.Motor 229 drives rotation pulley 223 and belt 233 to effect rotation ofcamera 15 in rotation to Y-axis block 220. Sensor flag 237 providescamera rotational signals to sensors 235. The camera is further securedto the Y-axis travel block 220 by camera retainer ring 228, utilizingfasteners. The Y-axis travel block 220 is mounted to a pair of Y-axistravel shafts 230 via through bores 232 in travel block. Low frictionbushings 234 are press-fit into the bores 232 of travel block 220 andprovided with retainers 239 to provide a low friction slidablerelationship between travel shafts 230 and travel block 220. Lens 58 isprovided with a pulley adapter 236, adapted to be engaged with a pulleybelt 238. Y-axis movement of the travel block is imparted by means of alinear actuator 240. Selective positioning of the Y-axis travel block220 is achieved by transmission of an appropriate signal whichcorresponds to a precise position of the linear actuator 240, andaccordingly, a precise position of the Y-axis travel block 220 inrelation to the optical stage of the apparatus. With continuingreference to FIG. 6, it can be seen that Z-axis travel block 244 acceptsone end of Y-axis travel shafts 230. Z-axis travel block 244 is, inturn, provided with through bores 246 which accept Z-axis travel shafts248 and Z-axis lead screw 250, with a provision for bearings 252 andretainers 239 which provide a relatively frictionless surfacesurrounding Z-axis travel shafts 248, permitting smooth verticalmovement of the Z-axis travel block and the components mounted thereto.The upper and lower ends of the Z-axis travel shafts 248 and Z-axis leadscrew 250 are affixed utilizing bearings 108 to upper shaft block 260and lower shaft block 262 which, in turn, are affixed to the rear toolplate. A floating nut assembly 264 is placed in cavity 266 of Z-axistravel block, thereby engaging the threads of Z-axis lead screw 250.Rotation of Z-axis lead screw 250 drives Z-axis travel block 244 upwardsand downwards, thereby repositioning camera 15 in relation to the planeof the film mounted on the image capture and encoding apparatus. Theupper end of lead screw 250 passes through a bearing 268 in upper shaftblock, and thence engages a flex coupling 270 and a stepper motor 272.The stopper motor 272 is mounted with standoffs 247 and fasteners 100,and drives rotation of lead screw 250. Sensor flags 241 providereference position for sensors (not shown) to provide positioninformation for the travel blocks.

Lens 58 has affixed thereto a lens focus motor mount 280. Attached tolens focus motor mount 280 is the lens focus drive motor 281, focusmotor mount plate 283 and standoffs 285, all held together byconventional fasteners 100 with associated nuts, lock washers andwashers. Affixed to lens assembly 58 is lens pulley adapter 236, towhich is affixed lens focus sensor flag 287. Lens pulley drive 284drives lens pulley 238, and in turn, lens pulley adapter 236 to alterthe lens focus. The lens 58 is appropriately spaced from camera 15 byspacers 282. Sensor 286 is mounted to spacer block 288 by conventionalfasteners.

It can be seen from this description that the various componentsdescribed, including the travel blocks, shafts, lens, and rotatingrings, result in an articulated camera assembly which may be urged tomove vertically (the Z-axis) horizontally (the Y-axis), rotated (theR-axis), and vary in focus in relation to the plane of a negative beingtransported in the apparatus. Movements in each of these axes may beunder computer control, or may be manual, depending on the operator'spreference.

The structure and function of the lamp house may be seen by reference toFIGS. 9A-9D. The lamp house consists of a top 54, a right side 56, and aleft side 59. Affixed to a top plate 54 are a negative glass 48 and adiffuser glass 49, a film guide assembly 57 is affixed to top 54 plateby suitable fasteners. Anti curl rollers are affixed to film guideassembly 57 to stabilize the film edges as the film is transportedacross the lamp house top 54. A LED light source printed circuit board62 is mounted directly beneath the mixing chamber (not shown) by guides73 affixed to bracket 61. The LED light source printed circuit board 62is comprised of red, green and blue light emitting diodes, each group(R, G & B) is individually computer-controlled for precise exposuretime. Each LED group is selectively operable allowing all, or anyportion, of the array of light emitting diodes to be operated asdesired.

To assist in the dissipation of the heat generated within the lamphouse, the lamp house is provided with a lamp house fan 14, which isaffixed by fasteners 100 to the lamp house right side 56, and providedwith a lamp house guard 66, a filter 68 and a fan cover 70.

Because the apparatus relies upon a pneumatic power source to hold downthe film and to operate the punch, a pneumatic source and distributionsystem is required, as shown in FIG. 12. The vacuum sources may be aventuri vacuum pump 200, which is selectively activated. A high pressureair inlet 302 is mounted to either the housing 28 or base plate 36 so asto be physically secure. Typically, the air inlet is provided with aquick disconnect nipple 301 which allows for easy connection anddisconnection of a source of high pressure air. The inner inlet isconnected by appropriate pneumatic tubing 303 to an on-off valve 304which opens and closes in response to the application or removal of mainsystem power to the station. The valve routes high pressure air to anair regulator 306 which is provided with an outlet pressure indicator308, as well as a regulator to provide a known pressure of high pressureair to the remaining components of the pneumatic system. The regulatorhigh pressure air is then routed to a T 310 which provides regulatedhigh pressure air to the valve stack 312 as well as to the pneumaticmanifold 314.

A further understanding of the system will be best understood by firstunderstanding the vacuum system, comprising the vacuum pump 200, thevacuum controller 316 and the associated tubing 318. The vacuum pumpprovides a source of vacuum to the punch receptacle 210. Coupled withpressure from the manifold 314 provided to the punch assembly 332through punch waste pressure line 320, punch waste is routed through thepunch waste discharge tubing 322 to the punch receptacle 210.

Turning now to the pressure side of the pneumatic system, it can be seenthat high pressure air is routed to valve stack 312, consisting of tenpneumatic valves. The position of each of the ten pneumatic valves isdetermined by electrical signals from the computer 14. The outlet 313 ofeach of the valves in the ten valve stack is connected by tubing arrays330 to the punch assembly 332, thereby positioning the individualpunches of the punch assembly 332 in a predetermined order. Typically,this punch system order is a binary code of ten bits, allowing encodingof numbers up to 2¹⁰. Once the valve stack 312 has sent the appropriatepneumatic signals to the editor punch assembly 332, an appropriatesignal is sent to the editor punch assembly valve 334 to providepunching pneumatic pressure to the editor punch assembly 332, therebydriving the selected punch elements of the punch assembly 332 throughthe edge of the film. The pneumatic manifold 314 also provides aselective signal to the film hold-down cylinder 340, to operate thenecessary film hold-down elements (not shown) to hold the film againstthe lamp house top 54 and negative glass 48 during image capture andencoding. The front tool plate 38 and rear tool plate 40 and base plate36 are shown in ghost view in relation to the main pneumatic componentsin FIG. 12A. In one embodiment of the invention, the valve stack 312 issecured to the rear tool plate 40. The pneumatic manifold 314 ispreferably mounted to the base plate 36. Air inlet 302, valve 304 and aregulator 306 may be mounted in any location within the housing 28, butare typically affixed to rear cover 34. Vacuum pump 200 may likewise bemounted anywhere within the housing 78, and in one embodiment is affixedto the interior side of the front tool plate 38. Punch assembly 332 issecured to front tool plate 38. Punch receptacle 210 is mounted to thefront or exterior side of front tool plate 38 where it is easilyaccessible to the operator for emptying.

Activation of the punch assembly 332 mechanism itself forces individualpunch elements to and through the film surface. As the punch system isactuated, a vacuum is applied to the punch chip reservoir 210, which ismounted to be easily removed from the apparatus so that it can beemptied and reattached. The vacuum facilitates separation of the chipspunched from the film, urging them into the reservoir 210.

With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, detailed operation of the completesystem proceeds as follows: A long roll of film 13 is mounted to feedspool 80. The free end of the film is routed around idler roller 116,tensioning roller 130, particle transfer rollers 120, guide roller 124and across the optical stage of the lamp house 50. The film 13 is thenfed across guide rollers 160, drive roller 174, particle transferrollers 120, and tensioning roller 180 to a take-up spool 82 mounted ontake-up spool shaft 83. The film feed shaft 81 and film take-up spoolshaft 83 are driven, respectively, by film drive motors and film take-upspool motors (not shown), which serve to position the longitudinal orX-axis of the film in a desired position in relation to camera 15 andlamp house 50. Utilizing selective film drive techniques which are wellknown, the X-axis or position of the longitudinal centerline of the filmcan be precisely located in relation to the optical center of the lens58 associated with camera 15. One edge of the film is positioned inrelation to a film punch 332 located proximate the discharge end of thelamp house 50. A film chip reservoir 210 is provided to receive filmchips generated by the film punch. During initial processing of the filmlong roll, the edge of each frame of the film is detected by edge sensor90, and thereafter provided with a discrete punch code by punch 332.This discrete punch code serves to corelate and identify each frame ofthe long roll of film and associated digital data created and storedduring the editing processes.

To facilitate servicing of the various components, certain elements ofthe housing are readily removable. Rear cover 34 is provided with aplurality of quarter turn fasteners 400, which, in turn, are providedwith spring elements 402, washers 404 and split rings 408 designed tosecure the quarter turn fasteners within holes 406 around the perimeterof the rear cover 34. The quarter turn fasteners 400 are likewisepositioned to engage holes 409 and quarter turn fastener retainers 410which are affixed to the perimeter of housing sides 30 and 32.Preferably, the quarter turn fastener retainers 410 are affixed to theperimeter of the housing sides by rivets 412. In this fashion, the rearcover can be removed from the station quickly without the need forsophisticated tools. The rear cover 34 is also provided with a topshroud 35 which, in one embodiment, is also provided with a cooling fan402, a cooling fan guard 43, air filter 68 and cooling fan cover 44. Thelamp house 50 portion of the station is likewise provided with a frontcover 53 provided with operating switches 418 for providing bothelectric and pneumatic power to the device. It is typical to provide anidentification plate 420 affixed to the front of the lamp house cover 53to provide the manufacturer's name, as well as the model name, operatingvoltages, and other specifications for the system.

As each frame of the film long roll is detected and punched, it issimultaneously presented to the lamp house 50 stage. The lamp house isthen illuminated, thereby presenting an image to camera 15. The image sopresented is simultaneously displayed on computer monitor 18 as depictedin FIG. 1. Utilizing the visual image provided by computer monitor 18,the operator can provide multiple editing and positioning information.Specifically, the operator can view the image for color balance, commondefects such as retinal reflection (“red eye”), closed eyes (“blink”),poor color balance, skin blemishes and other fundamental defectsaffecting the appearance of the photographic subject. At the same time,the operator can position the camera 15 in both the Y and Z axis and canrotate the camera about its central optical axis, the “R” axis, as wellas apply cropping information. This permits a preliminarily edited imageto be created in either landscape or portrait format or selectivelyrotated to a format intermediate landscape and portrait for artisticpurposes.

Once the image has been evaluated and preliminarily edited asabove-described, the image, together with its identifying code, cameraposition and associated preliminary edits is stored as a digital image.The finished image may be stored as a raw image and the editinginformation stored separately, or the image may be fully edited and onlythe edited image stored. The operator continues the editing processthroughout each desired image of the long roll of film. Each image withits associated editing information is stored in a data base, whereineach data base record is discretely identified by the film frame code.Utilizing this code, therefore, the data for each individual image iseasily retrieved.

Operation of the invention continues with transmission of the image andediting data to the originating photographer. Typically, thistransmission takes place over a wide area network such as the internet,enabling the originating photographer to view the preliminarily editedphotographs without the need for generating printed proofs. Theoriginating photographer can easily review the photographs in thecompany of the ultimate customer, or can transmit the digital images tothe ultimate customer for comment and ordering. After the originatingphotographer reviews the images and obtains an order from the customer,the originating photographer will transmit additional editinginformation to the photographic laboratory, together with orderinginformation.

At this stage, the output process begins. The original long roll film isagain loaded into the image capture and encoding station which is, aspreviously discussed, provided with the necessary edge detection andpunch code reader hardware insuring that the registration of the filmduring the original editing process can be precisely duplicated duringthe output process. Punch assembly 332 incorporates a punch code readerwhich permits identification of each frame. As each frame is detectedand identified, therefore, the film positioning information from theoriginal editing process is used to re-register the film 13 and camera15 in the precise position established during the original editing step.Each frame is identified as one which will or will not be printed, as aninitial step. Those frames which will not be printed are bypassed, andonly those frames which will be printed are the subject of furtherprocessing. As each frame to be printed is presented to the opticalstage of the image capture and encoding station, the original editinginformation provided in the original editing step, together with theediting data provided by the originating photographer are retrieved bythe computer and applied to the image capture and encoding station,thereby simultaneously positioning the camera in Y and R axis as well asfocus. Appropriate cropping and color balance information, as well asdetailed edits of the photographic image are applied. With each of theabove parameters thereby established and applied, the final image isthen captured and output, either directly to digital output, or theparameters may be utilized to drive a conventional photographic printer,thereby regulating image size, cropping, color balance, masking, mattingand orientation. Having thus described my invention, numerousinsubstantial variations will be obvious to those skilled in the art,without departing from the invention, which I claim as follows:

1. In an apparatus for capturing a series of digital images from amedium containing a series of visible images comprising a digitalcamera, a media positioning means, a media illuminating means, animaging station and a means for encoding said media for identificationof each of said series of visible images, the improvement comprisingmeans for selectively positioning said digital camera under the controlof a computer and means for storing information regarding saidpositioning of said camera as digital data.
 2. The invention of claim 1wherein said positioning of said digital camera further comprisespositioning said digital camera in relation to the Y-axis of said media.3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said positioning of said digitalcamera further comprises positioning said digital camera in relation tothe Z-axis of said media.
 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein saidpositioning of said digital camera further comprises positioning saiddigital camera in relation to the R-axis of said media.
 5. The inventionof claim 1 wherein said selective positioning comprises adjusting thepoint of focus of said digital camera.
 6. In the method of capturing aseries of digital images from a media containing a series of visibleimages comprising positioning said media in relation to a digitalcamera, capturing a digital image from said media utilizing said camera,and encoding said media for identification of each of said series ofvisible images, the improvement comprising selectively positioning saidcamera under the control of a computer and storing information regardingsaid positioning as digital data.
 7. The method of claim 6, whichfurther comprises editing of said images utilizing said digital data. 8.The method of claim 6 which further comprises the printing of saidimages utilizing said digital data.